Cold-stunned alligator spotted in Florida state park with fish in its mouth

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Nobody likes eating when they’re cold.

Visitors at a state park in Florida witnessed an unusual sight over the weekend. While it’s not uncommon for Floridians to see alligators, they’re usually moving around.

When a cold-blooded animal is exposed to cold temperatures or water, it can be become cold-stunned.
(Robin Austin)

Robin Goff Austin shared photos to Facebook of a gator she spotted at Myakka State Park. The large animal was sitting near the river’s bank, staying still and holding a fish in its mouth.

“The gator just laid there. He didn’t move the whole time I watched him and taking pictures. He never moved,” Austin told Fox 13 in Tampa. “I guess gator was cold. Caught this fish and kind of didn’t know what to do with him at the time.”

Austin believes that the fish in the gator’s mouth was a snook. On Facebook, she wrote that it’s her favorite kind of fish.

The temperature in Florida was colder than the state’s average climate, meaning that it’s likely that the gator was cold-stunned. When cold-blooded animals are exposed to cold temperatures and waters for extended periods of time, this can cause them to become slow and inactive.

Alligators are a common sight in Florida.

Golfers in Florida need to pay attention close to the water hazards since alligators are known to live in every county of the state. 
(Mike Murphy)

The gator then walked across the course towards one of the other lakes. Apparently, it had to take its lunch with it on the trip.

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